Denture



Dec. ll, 1951 H. KANE y DENTURE Filed Deo. 31, 1947 E Si /M/Qy m/E INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented bec. 11.',*1'951 f UNITED .STATES PATENT GFFICE fas'zvjse i f. j j'nENTUiin *Y Harry Kane,y Brooklyn, N. Y. Application December 31, 1947, Serial No'. 195,044

`This invention relates generally to "dentures,'*l

A andmore particularly to an improvedjconstruction thereof in which the artificial `teeth may have axial movement with respect' to the denture base element.

" f It is a well known medical fact that live or .natural teeth, have independent movement with `Vrespect to the sockets in the jaw bone within which they are located and secured. This movelment of the teeth tends to absorb shock as the upper and lower teeth meet in biting or chewing 4jaw movement, and also to distribute the*` pressure exerted by the muscles as lthey move the lower jaw toward the upper jaw. In dentures heretofore known and used, the

artificial teeth are rigidly mounted inthe denture base element, said base element being of irregular shape to conform to the gum-covered fupper and lower jaw bones. In such dentures, the hollow portions thereof are generally U- shaped in cross section'to conform to the ridge formed after the extractionl of the natural teeth. yBiting and chewing pressures may reach relatively high orders, in tests' made such pressures vrhaving been indicated inthe range4 of 25 to 50 pounds per square inch and upto 75 or 100 pounds 4per square inch. Since the artificial teeth in known denture base elements have been unable to shift in positiontovdistribute the strain, it frequently occurs that the pressure is concentrated at localized areas along the ridge...3.

vThis results in the destruction of tissue and'de- 'structionof the process thereat. Because of this condition, the dentures 'orfplatesbecome ill-tting after short periods of use `necessitating re- -lining in order to make them t properly again.

-ffIt is therefore, among the objectsof the present invention to provide Van "improved denture "construction in which the vartificial teeth are Aeach mounted for movement independent of 40 lthe denture element and of thelremaining teeth.

This construction permits the teeth to shift in varying amounts so that biting and "chewing stresses are partially absorbed and are distribut- `Ved over a greater areas of the ridge. YThis results in less tissue and process damage and longer L; periods 'between adjustments of the denture eleyment to produce proper fit. l' f Another object herein lies inthe provision of lstructure of the class describedf wherein the artificial teeth arefaxially movable with respect vto thedenture base. Y Y Another object herein lies in the provision of denture construction in which the-teeth-have a movement thereof lubricated by the salivazof the mouth, .111.. ,v' I." w

Another object herein lies in the provision o denture construction having independently movable teeth inwhich the movement of the teeth `is rcushioned or resiliently controlled. 5 Another object herein lies in the provision of Y artificial tooth mounting structure in conjunction with a denture base which is compact and .efficient so'that the present construction'may lbe incorporated in dentures for use by persons l0 Y' having a high ridge'with relatively low inter- .j aw clearance when the lower jaw is in the upper Ifor biting positionv thereof.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that there is greater denture stability and increased masticating comfort.

Because of the balancing of forces produced by v'the independent action of the individual articial teeth, less tipping or rocking of the denture is encountered. Another advantageous feature of the present Vinvention4 lies in the fact that should a tooth or teeth become worn or damaged, it is a relatively simple and inexpensive matter to remove the faultytooth o r teeth and to replace the same. QThe interchangeability of the teeth is assured by having certain standard shapes and sizes of fthe interiitting parts, particularly the inner and fouter members of the mounting means.

@These objects and other incidental ends and 01j advantages will more fully appear in the progress "ofthis disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims. A f f f In the drawings in which similar reference Vcharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several' views:

fFig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken r'away to sh 9 w internal construction, of upper and lower dentures embodying the invention. Fig'j2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of Va firstembodiment of the invention, as seen from the plane 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the resilient element in the first embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the tooth retaining element of the rst embodiment of the invention. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the tooth retaining element of the rst embodiment of the invention.V Y. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to Fig. 2 of the individual tooth mounting struc- -ture in a second embodiment of the invention. 1 Fig. 'l is a ViewY in perspective of the resilient :element of the second embodiment of the inven- 'tion. .f l' 551i" 'fThere are shown in Fig. 1 an upper dentures tand 'a lowerv .denture 8.V While it isffpossible vto all of the posterior teeth of a lower denture, lan i upper denture, or both, depending upon the number,position and arrangement of the natural teeth in the mouth of the particularllser.

Since the construction of the supporting structure for each of the posterior' teeth ssubstantially identical, except for changes in fsize; and arrangement, a detailed description of one, gen- ,erally indicated by. reference .character .I0,..will

suiiicefor all. y

Thisstructure includes broadly atcoth element I I and mounting means I therefor. The mount- I.ingmeans I. servesto movably positionfand secure the .tooth .element II upon ,the dental vbase YI2. .Thetooth element II, at least as to the ex- ..posed ,surfaces .thereof ,may be ofthe usualconfiguration including a mesial surfaceY I3, a lingual surface I4,. a.- distal surface I5 a buccalsurface `v^lland anocclusialsurface I'I. The cusps I8 are preferably formed to simulateI thenatural tooth and to provide the properocclusion. .A tooth II is .preferably composed of a suitable materialsuch as porcelain or plastic composition and includes an outerportion 2 3 and an innerl portion or base portion .24. Thebaseportion 24 is `preferably of cylindrical shape having an outer generally vertical surface 52 and a bottom surface. .25.

The mounting means 1. includes an inner mem- .ber Mi,v an outer member 3I1Handa resilient or .-.cushioning Velement .3 5.

'Il'ie'inner-.mernber` has a vertical wall 21,. and azthickened bottom Wall 28. As maybe seenon f 4 and-.5,.the bottom wall is provided with aV zpluralityof rectangular, openings Ellleading to f, angularlyarranged cam -portions and thence-to horizontally disposed curvilinear channels 5I. &'While for-purposes of clarity, only two orifices ,and channels are shown, there may be any con- --venientznumber,consistent with strength; and relative ease of manufacture. They should how- .e.verbe of sufficiently large circular sectorto provide a. positive locking action as Willmore fully appear. These channelsterminate Ain flat sur- V:facesi 2.9.

Vf. The,retaining-or inner niember'2 .is'preferably composed of metal .which isnot easily corroded jeby; food-or saliva. The Youter surfaces thereof,

:aparticularlythe outer lsurface 52, arepreferably smooth, While the inner surfacesare vpreferably fetched or 'ropghenedtoprovide a good bond for .ithefbase portion--Z-ofthe tooth .I I. Where the material ofywhich the tooth Il is composed'fposessesxsufiieient resistance to wear and is other.

.isegstrong enough, the Atooth II and themember zfsmay be formed-integrally. While the-cross sectional periphery of the retaining element 26 xrisncircular;:thisfis affected-,bythe Ishape and size o V.ztheaouterf member 30. 'Other shapes maybe used,-.such..-as'oval, elliptical,` polygonal, or irregu- .:lar. VThecuter sleeve'orrlining member-30 is ,posiftioned.-.peripherally around the retaining member. It includes a circular wall portion 3|, substan- Atiallyf vertically disposed, and a relatively; thickerVVV Y.

ehorizontallyf. disposed bottomrfk wall.. .321; provided with a plurality of threaded holes 33 adapted to receive the screws 34.

Horizontally disposed between the bottom walls 28 and 32 is the resilient cushioning element 35, including a main body element 36 and resilient tab members 31 which are bent upwardly from the main body element. The size and configuration of these tabs substantially correspond with -lfthegoriees 'and channelsilil. Each includes lotawrelatively horizontalsportion 38. and a shorter angularly disposed portion 39. Screw holes 44 'mare provided in the body element.

...The lining member 30 is secured to the base element I2 in the upper or gingival portion 22 f,.15.ffbygany-,suitable means, such as having a roughened oretched outer surface which is retained by'casting-the'baseelement in contact therewith. Bygmeans of the present structure, the tooth, together with the retaining member may be .read1y. removedby rotating thetooth andre- Vtaining.member).througha small angle, should .itbecomeadvisable to replace e'ither'the tooth orithe resilientmember. It is essential however, that'the't between the vertical walls.2'! and `25.-,3I,.,be to .very closetolerances as anyiappreciable .movementotherthan along the axis ofthetooth would cause ,excessivewean resulting in loose'nt .and .poorocclusion `Thebase I2., except as votherwise noted, is gen- Y erallyf..ofthe conventionalV acrylic vor hard rubber,-typeincluding a ridge engaging` surface v19, aabucc'al periphia 20., alingualy periphia 2 I, and.` a gingia 22. In the .case,.,offthe, upper 1plate,'the linguall periphia ,is,y of course, replaced by ,L the 35, palatefinot shown).

While Ihaveshown'the cushioning element as slicing. securedto ,the outer` member '33 by. a plu- .laltvyof .screws 34,since lmost ofthe .external stress lis downward.,againstlthe cushioning Aele- Olment,...all,saveone, of .thescrewsmay have dowel ,.pins, substituted therefor.

`Turning now` to lthesecond embodiment of` the invention,: illustra,ted in Figs.. 6 and 7, certain ,ofthepartscorresponding to the rst embodirment.. are vgiven the. sa-me reference characters f with-the additionof a prefix fl.

y The` second embodiment. differs from ,the -r'st embodiment principally` inthe lresilient lelement ,whichiss-,composed of.- rubber or similar lelastic wfrnaterial. :AsInayfbe seen on Fig. 7, itfincludes .a body Ieier-nent .-I- ,having ,-therein a Vplurality :sofi holes I-.,44 "which serve `to pass screws |34 se- .curingi-thefresilient-element to .the lower Wall .1.32. .Qrifices1;I4I-, serveto .allow for compression. dividentheptooth-risA in itsV unstressed position, the vvresilient lelement assumes.. the shapeV asv seen on L Figi Whenthe resilient-element is compressed ',howeyer, therubbermust occupy a smaller volfume. ,Thissin-aller vvolume is made possible. by o..s0me gofgthe rubber expanding into said. orifices.

,.fWhen;the pressureds released, theresilient elef mentjresumes'its original shape.

.Qn.;the.upper surface fI40of-the resilientY ele- .ment ;is aglockingmember -I4I, which `ismadc `preferably `integral with theresilient element. As

maywbe seenzon Eig; 6, Yit, is .of a trapezoidal Vertical cross section. Acor-respondingrecess |42 gis provided in *the ylowerV wall 128,.,positioned to engagefthe-'locking member I4If--when the vari- Ousxmembers'fhave-vbeenyassembled. Like 'the first embodiment, the teethcrnay` ,be readily re- ;moverl-rfor adjustment or; replacement. when requil-ed. nithex casegjof the second` embodiment, Yremoval fof; the: tooth- .does notyrequire rotation, being instead pulled straight up.

Y 5 In operation, the tooth is normally at` the up per-most portion of its line of action with respect to the base, at which point the resilient means is unstressed. As the tooth comes in contact with resistance, in the form of food or opposing teeth, the shock of contact is transmitted to the resilient element, which cushions the impact, and thereby provides a more natural action to the masticating process.

This device is applicable to either the upper or qlower plate, as required. In general, if both an upper and a lower denture is used, it will be found more satisfactory to mount the teeth of the lower plate resiliently.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications l' Will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

l. A denture comprising: a denture base; a tooth; and means to detaohably engage said tooth with said base, said means including a channel in said tooth and a rotatably engageable linger in said channel.

2. A denture comprising: a denture base having a recess therein; a lining for said recess; a tooth retaining element; a tooth disposed in said element; and a finger rotatably engageable with said tooth retaining element by a rotational movement with respect to said tooth retaining element, whereby the tooth and tooth retaining ing a recess therein, and a tooth, the improvement comprising: a lining for said recess; a tooth retaining element; said tooth being disposed in said element; and a finger rotatably engageable with said tooth retaining element by a rotational movement with respect to said tooth retaining element, wherebyr the tooth and tooth retaining element may be detachably engaged with the denl ture base in said recess.

HARRY KANE.

REFERENSES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,105,476 Withycombe July 28, 1914 1,193,329 Withycombe Aug. 1, 1916 1,436,016 De Nise Nov. 21, 1922 1,610,987 Withycombe Dec. 14, 1926 2,165,558 Linchitz July 11, 1939 

